Lincecum Named Golden Spikes Finalist
June 1, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. - Washington junior pitcher Tim Lincecum has been named one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which recognizes the top amatuer baseball player in the country, USA Baseball announced today.
Lincecum, named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year yesterday, joins Long Beach State infielder Evan Longoria, North Carolina pitcher Andrew Miller, Vanderbilt pitcher David Price and Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs as a finalist.
Lincecum finished the 2006 season 12-4 with a 1.94 earned run average. He broke his own Husky strikeouts record with 199 and also established new UW and Pac-10 records for career strikeouts, with 491. In 125.1 innings, he allowed only 75 hits this season.
The 2006 Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced during the broadcast of the 29th Annual Golden Spikes Award on June 23rd at 1:00 p.m. EST on ESPNU. The broadcast, presented in conjunction with Major League Baseball, will also highlight USA Baseball's athlete programs as well as some of the various organizational youth baseball initiatives supported by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball.
For the past 28 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first-ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2005 Golden Spikes Award winner was Alex Gordon of the University of Nebraska. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars such as Khalil Greene ('02), Mark Prior ('01), Jason Jennings ('00), Pat Burrell (`98), J.D. Drew ('97), Travis Lee ('96), Mark Kotsay ('95), Jason Varitek ('94), Darren Dreifort ('93), and Phil Nevin ('92). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Alex Fernandez ('90), Ben McDonald ('89), Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79), and Bob Horner ('78).
